Was I Wrong ?

[ldts60]

Teacher had grade A Foie Gras and smoked it,I made the comment that Escoffier was rolling in his grave and that I don't recall this as a classical method of preparation according to L.C.B.
Boy ! was I put on the dodo list .BUT IT FELT SO GOOD!!
Mind you this was said in passing to a classmate and the teacher was eaves dropping ....TRUTH HURTS
Is there a perfect production schedule list because my teacher loves giving them for homework and if she doesn't like it it's a re-do and I have asked for an example of what she is looking for and IT say's to figure it out it states "Have people around you read it if they can understand the process going on then I'ts acceptable " I have my parents and my daughters 6 year old classmates read it they understand it why doesn't it?

[ccase39]

If we all stuck to the classical methods of production without deviation I imagine our profession would be pretty boring. After all I doubt Escoffier himself had access to the wide variety of produce and ingredients we do today. So maybe smoked foie gras with lets say carmalized pineapple and fried duck prosciutto may sound wierd, but its simply flavors that classicaly pair together well inspired by a simple thanksgiving dinner (smoked ham with pineapples stuck to them with a toothpick,hardly fine dining) and made into a dish that is tasty, creative and marketable. Jiust an opinion.

[kuan]

How exactly was it smoked? Cured and smoked? Cold smoked?

In any case, I would never do any of that to foie gras.

[chefrbruno]

You were wrong! Obviously you're a student, and granted you made the comment to another student in passing, but, your instructor heard you and you were wrong. It's not that foie gras shouldn't be smoked, that's not the issue here, as far as I'm concerned. It's the fact that you made a sarcastic comment that should have been kept to yourself. You have to understand that she, chef, never "It" (that continues to show a negative image of yourself) is the instructor and no matter what you might think of her, she still deserves your respect. She earned the right to be called "chef", I suspect one day you will too. Don't get me wrong, I love the enthusiasm, but you were out of line. Just my opinion, for what its worth.

[ldts60]

The problem is that L.C.B. only pushes the classical way and my food god's
are Mark Peel and Alain Ducasse ......So I'm not very closed minded when it comes to food pairing I'm just at the wrong school .Plus she pan smoked it with wood chips...A Jasmine Tea pan smoking and say a Lychee reduction would have said more to me .(just an opinion) .

[ldts60]

Chef Bruno,
This particular Chef is very intimidating when you ask for more time to copy notes the Chef likes to sigh and make snide remarks and she has actually called people stupid .
When she gives re-do after re-do to the point of no return and I was not the
only one there were many i.e. production schedules .
Sorry I refuse to be called stupid because she refused to give an example.
In the real world I can give 2 weeks notice at school that's not always an option and I have worked and studied in the devils kitchen.
She was a little Chinese lady , trained at the L.C.B. in Paris and worked out of the Savoy Hotel in London she was like John Housman in the Paper Chase her favorite punishment for talking during lecture was ..............
" Fine , since you are so well versed on this dish please go make it and you will be graded by your peers and then you will go to the other Chef's and have them grade you and when all was done she asked "What did you learn? " In all this Chef I have now is cruel and not a teacher and I resent ever having to be in her kitchen and respect is earned not assumed just because you have a title.

[kuan]

Sometimes chefs are too sensitive... they're like "OMG I'm the be all and end all culinary god I sure as heck cannot be wrong!" Gimme a break. The kind of crap professors get in college goes way beyond a little remark here and there. This chef needs to develop a thicker skin and not wear the title on her sleeve.

Nobody is wrong, nobody is right. People just need to have their ego checked once in awhile. Both students and instructors, heck, chefs and customers, critics, dishwashers, everyone.

[ccase39]

I have read some of your other posts and it seems like to put it mildly you are not fond of school. It seems that you spend a great deal of time pointing fingers and proclaiming everyone is wrong and you are right. you are very eagar to point out how much you know, so what are you doing in school. It seems like you have a strong grasp of the fundamentals so why not leave and continue your career. In doing so you will probably make easier for yourself, your teachers, and your classmates. As a matter of fact Ive had one of you in just about everyone of my classes and when you did leave the classroom dynamics changed for the better.

[ldts60]

Always respect your dishwasher.........And yes we should all step off the pedestal It keeps us humble.

[ldts60]

Fortunately or unfortunately I was raised around boring private hospital kithchen's (boring as far as food goes)It was the drop off place for me when my Grandfather had to do his rounds and so instead of sitting in a corner coloring I put on a hairnet and apron and learned how to cook .From there I went to culinary school well the school I was attending closed and from there I started catering ,got married,had a child and got a divorce from there I went back to school ............My, my, what 8 years can do.
When I first started culinary school we had to take an exam on basic kitchen knowledge,What does it mean to quarter an apple?Write out the recipe for instant oatmeal ? Product I.D. it was a method that worked it helped to separate the wheat from chaff.
When I started P.C.1 back in August and everyone was giving the
" Why I'm Going To Culinary School " speech out of 30 people only 5 said it was because they love the art the other 25 said money or to be the next
celebrity chef........How dreamy.
So CCASE39 your right I do need to get out in the real world and I'm sorry my pissy attitude offends your senses but this is where I go to sound off and get answers for the frustration I feel I actually learn more from all of you than I learn from school and I am very grateful for all of your wisdom.
Sincerely,
ldts60

[Mikeb]

The chef I learned most from was a crazy french chef... He would constantly yell, swear, insult people, etc... Arguing with him was impossible, because he was always right (although occasionally there would be misunderstanding due to language issues), even if at the time I thought I was right. But at the same time he was extremely knowledgable, and very helpful if you asked. Also the most passionate chef I've ever met.

Anyhow, I think it definitely was a mistake on your part. Sometimes the crazy chefs are the ones you can learn most from. Even if you don't agree with their methods, you can still learn from them. Now you might not be able to learn all you could have had you been more open-minded...

Even from your description of the chef she seems reasonable, I don't know what your problem is...

BTW, there is alot more to cooking than classic French technique...

[ccase39]

Takes alot more than a pissy attitude to offend me. Besides im pissier than you. have fun good luck

[ccase39]

I dont mean to be a hard a-- but really what happens when you wake up one day and one of these emiril loving money hungry wannabes comes up with something so good that a ray from the pope himself beems upon it. you would realize that while you were complaining others were learning and actually being taught. been there it sux

[Pete]

I have to agree with the majority around here. You should have kept quiet. You have no place second guessing a teacher. As for respect, you are right respect must be earned, but on the other hand, you as a student need to show respect to your chef/instructor whether you respect them or not. You don't know how many times, as a young cook, I thought a chef was crazy for doing something, only years later to realize what a great idea it was. Im not saying that always happens, but you need to be open-minded enough to, at least, consider the idea, and you need to be humble enough to accept the fact that this, and other chefs you will study under, know a whole lot more than you do. Right now as a young cook it is your responsibility to suck up as much information as you can. As you get older, in this industry, and have more experience, then you can start sorting through all you have learned and start to develop your own style.

[ldts60]

To : ccase39
Hey! I can always use the good swift kick in the a** ,and you win hands down when it comes to pissy,or as my classmates would say "Your all that and a bag a chips!"
Thank You!